Mudbound
This was a hard novel to put down once I started it. I felt for both parties involved, those who physically owned the land and those whose bodies labored over the land. The year was and Henry, a new landowner had never been so proud. Henry had just bought his farm and moved his family to Mississippi, keeping Hep on to work the land. It’s a story that takes you back to 1946, where race was an issue. Where some individuals pushed this issue while others didn’t see the point, where fighting for your country meant something while others were more concerned with your title while you did so. I saw both sides of the story and it was an amazing story.
Laura wasn’t too happy about moving away from her family when Henry came home with the news. The idea of moving closer to her father-in-law made the idea even more depressing yet when they arrived in Mississippi and learned about their living conditions, Laura hit rock bottom. When the kids became sick, Laura had to rely on Hep’s wife with her herbal remedies, as she was the closest thing to a doctor at the moment. I felt a huge shift in the novel as events started to escalate and individuals started to reveal their true colors. Needs and wants, pride and dignity all came to the surface as the families fight for survive.
When family members returned from the war, it added another layer to each of the families and to the community. I have to say, I enjoyed the complexity that these individuals brought to the table. They changed the chemistry of the whole novel.
I really enjoyed this novel. There were some intense, emotional scenes as the story was being played out and I really enjoyed all the characters. I highly recommend this novel and I can’t wait to read what else this author has written.
7
